Sean Penn & Other Heroes

It reads like a James Bond film. It was recently released that Shmuley Boteach’s organization, This World: The Values Network, will award Sean Penn a 'global champion of Jewish values' honor for his work in releasing Jacob Ostreicher, 54, a New York Orthodox Jewish entrepreneur in a flooring firm in Brooklyn, from captivity in Bolivia. Several years ago after investing in a rice-farming venture in Bolivia, Ostreicher was arrested for money laundering in December 2011 and held in prison under brutal conditions, accused, but not charged. He alleged that the Colombian woman running the business had been skimming the investors’ cash.

It reads like a James Bond film.

Ostreicher spent 18 months in Bolivia’s infamous Palmasola squalid prison where he was beaten, humiliated, and had to pay off his jailors. At his request, along with other organizations, Sean Penn stepped in, arranged for house arrest, then under murky conditions, Ostreicher was spirited out of the country back to America. The general assumption has been that Penn was intimately and personally involved.

In 2010, Penn managed to speak directly with the President Evo Morales to gain the Orthodox Ostreicher’s house arrest. What followed resembled Mission Impossible. Somehow Ostreicher made it across a hostile border into the United States. According to Peter Hakim, president emeritus of the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, "You'll never find out [the truth]."

While the Rabbi Boteach admits he has “disagreed vehemently with Penn in the past on a range of issues,” he adds what Penn did “blew my mind, and, in the spirit of gratitude, I must acknowledge it.” Rabbi Boteach adds: “Penn had no obligation to risk his life for Ostreicher. I’d like to think he was moved by the simplest of reasons – to save another human being in need.”

Penn will be given the organization’s 2014 ‘Champion of Jewish Justice’ award at a gala on Lag B’Omer, May 18, in New York. Rabbi Boteach told The Algemeiner, “The essence of this award, is that you don’t have to agree with someone’s politics to honor his tremendous humanity.” He then talked of Penn’s unbridled and unparalleled help in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake. Penn moved to Haiti after the devastation where he created a relief organization that assisted 60,000 displaced persons.

Some Unsung Heroes

There are other unsung heroes who don’t necessarily make “copy” and have nothing on their mantel but dust. Here is just a tiny sample during 2013.

Israeli Hero Saved Two Bedouin Brothers from Drowning:

Last March, three brothers from the Bedouin village Kuseife swept to sea by strong currents during their family’s visit to Ashkelon. After four days of rescue efforts the third brother’s body, Nahed Sariye was discovered. But more, a story of heroism followed. Two other brothers from the Sariye family had been saved by Yaakov Bruchim, a 22-year-old from Ashkelon. Bruchim was walking home after shul when he saw the brothers drowning, jumped into the water and pulled one of the brothers, Salaam, 22, to shore. He then again went back and pulled the other brother, Salman, 19, out as well. Hassan Sariye, the emotional father of the boys, said about Bruchim. “God took away three sons but gave us another.” The modest Bruchim explained that he “didn’t do anything, but if I could have done more, I would have.”

Passengers on Bus Near Tel Aviv Flee Just Before a Bomb Explodes:

In December a bomb exploded on a bus in Bat Yam near Tel Aviv literally minutes after the passengers were asked to get off. Initial evidence pointed to terrorism. The bus driver, Michael Yoger, said that one of the passengers had alerted him to a bag on a seat. Inside were wires. Yoger ordered the passengers to leave the bus. Ten minutes later there was an explosion. No one was hurt. President Shimon Peres thanked the bus driver, telling him, “The whole nation is saying prayers of thanks today; you saved so many lives with the speed and bravery of your actions.”

Unsung Sobibor Death Camp Hero Finally Acknowledged:

Last October marked 70 years since the revolt at the infamous Sobibor death camp. After decades of near oblivion, Alexander Pechersky, who played a major role in masterminding the revolt and rousing his fellow prisoners was not only ignored, but persecuted during the Stalin anti-Semitic campaign. In 2013, he was posthumously given a Hero of Russia award, the country's highest honor.

More …

In a documentary about heroes directed by Yoav Shamir he looks at a New York City “subway hero” who rescued a man who fell onto the subway tracks after having a seizure; a Gentile woman who risked her life by hiding Jews during the Holocaust; his grandmother, widowed twice, who died heroically; a neurological researcher who amassed a fortune and gave away almost all his money, and Yonatan Shapira, an Israeli peace activist; and others.

Rich or poor, famous or not, each and every one of us can make the commitment to give and help others, and become a true hero.

Related Articles:

About the Author

Quirky, no-nonsense, funny, Marnie – writer, editor, author, lecturer, clinician, and administrator -- is a straight-shooter, who has a distinctive voice and takes on the world in her columns, features, and books. Her advice column was syndicated through Tribune Media Services, and it currently appears in Singular magazine as Singular Solutions. Marnie has written over 20 books/calendars, including the series “A Little Joy, A Little Oy." Her books include Yiddishe Mamas: The Truth About the Jewish Mother and A Little Joy, A Little Oy (pub. AndrewsMcMeel). She is also an award-winning “calendar queen” having written over 20. She has been nominated for both an Emmy and Writers Guild award.Thefullwiki.org has listed Marnie Macauley on their list of top Jewish_American writers, dead or living. (She’s still deciding which.) She was also chosen as a Distinguished Woman in Las Vegas in March of 2014.

Visitor Comments: 14

(9)
Shimona,
March 8, 2014 4:55 PM

One swallow doesn't make a summer

Some of the worst Nazi war criminals also made a point of saving one Jew (especially when they saw the tide had turned against them), as an "insurance policy" in case they should ever be brought to trial for war crimes.

(8)
Elchanan Axelrod,
March 6, 2014 9:12 PM

Hero!

Even a broken clock get's it right twice a day. Penn has a long history of being on the wrong side of people and events in the interest of the United States, Israel and the free world in general, Doing one thing to benefit one Jew could be the start of something good but doesn't make him a hero.

(7)
Anonymous,
March 6, 2014 3:02 AM

May be not a hero, but still have hakaras hatov

I do not have the full knowledge of Sean Penn's stance, but what I do understand is that he saved a fellow Jew from serious peril. No matter if he is considered a hero or not we--as fellow Jews, and common humanity--should feel gratitude to this man for sticking out his neck to save another human being/Jew. He had no obligation to save Jacob Ostreicher, but he did and i am sure it was no easy feat. So, thank you Sean Penn whether I vehemently disagree with your views or not.

Chana Parnes,
March 6, 2014 9:41 AM

Saved a Jew from Torture in Prison

We and Jacob Ostreicher's family definitely admire him for going out of his way for saving a Jew from persecution.

(6)
David S. Levine,
March 5, 2014 2:10 PM

An EVIL Man

The events of the article notwithstanding, Sean Penn is one of the most evil people in the entire world. He goes around the world giving moral succor to the most brutal dictators, particularly those who would destroy Israel. For any Jewish community organization to give him any kind of award is a knife in the neck for every Jew.

(5)
Michael,
March 5, 2014 5:26 AM

No Hero.

This has to be the first time I had read an article on AISH that appalled me. PENN is a hater of our great USA and our close -slose friend the state of Israel.For this off the wall person to do some good, there must be something in for him.But, AISH is still number ONE in my book,May G-d bless the good people at AISH that do so much good for so many people. May G-d bless the USA and the State of Israel always.

(4)
shoshan,
March 4, 2014 8:04 PM

mr penn was in bolivia in 2012 not 2010.

(3)
Aryeh Akiva,
March 4, 2014 6:04 PM

ridiculous

Under no conditions is this penn a hero period. Boteach is doing no service to Klal Israel by promoting this individual.

Anonymous,
March 6, 2014 10:16 AM

Sean Penn a hero? Hollywood the la la land where multimillionaires are at the ready to join any and all anti-Semitic, anti Israel narrative creators

Aish a superb Jewish website has fallen down on the job in publishing an article ascribing attributes of heroism under the aegis of Shmuley Boteach’s organization, This World: The Values Network! So much harm and damage done by an Sean born of a Jewish father, an actor whose undisguised hatreds of America, love affair with Israel-hater dictators such as the late Communist Hugo Chavez of Venezuela requires scrutiny of claims to heroism! As such set in an article of proven heroes of the Jewish people is a phenomenon that absolutely astonishes! James Bond indeed! How about the rest of the story!

(2)
Lyone,
March 3, 2014 9:52 PM

Anti-Semite

It is a shame to feature an article celebrating this well-known anti-semite. Sean Penn makes his anti Israel views known just about every where he goes.

I am perplexed about Boteach's awarding Penn this award. Perhaps you could use your influence to get an interview with the Rabbi to find out whether or not the actor has changed his views toward the Jewish state recently. THAT would make a world of difference to many of us who are careful with our entertainment dollars.

Rachel,
March 4, 2014 8:11 PM

No, he is not

Sean Penn is not an anti-Semite.

I, too, have a lot of problems with his views about Israel. However, it is wrong to label someone an anti-Semite because they oppose Israeli policy.

I am tired of being accused of homophobia because I am Orthodox. The fact that I would not want my synagogue to perform intermarriages and "gay" marriages does not mean I harbor ill feelings towards gentiles and gay people.

Be careful of how you label people. Call Sean Penn a liberal, an anti-Zionist, a ignoramus about Israeli affairs and I'll agree with you. But the man is not an anti-Semite.

Anonymous,
March 8, 2014 3:03 AM

Hollywood Brats Canonized

We must take care not to lend legitimacy, hero worship status granted least of all to such who are Hollywood brats living a lifestyle only granted in America such as would never happen in the very countries with belief systems that spin hatreds, libels and slander, canards as standard against the Jewish people, our Biblical homeland, our beloved Israel with narratives invented! America target as well being separated from the hall of nations piled up against by Hollywood "stars" who don't hestitate in falsehoods aimed at Democratic nations! I don't know what encouraged Penn to do what he did, save a Jew in a Bolvian prison. It would be nice to provided with the real reason!

who act

as conduits for enemies

of America, Israel

in spite of their millions earned

MARK LEWIS BRECKER, Esq.,
March 5, 2014 5:13 PM

NO EVIDENCE HE'S ANTI-SEMITIC.

80% OF THE WORLD'S SEMITES ARE ARABS. I KNOW OF NO ANTI-ARAB REMARKS OR ATTITUDES ASCRIBED TO MR. PENN.

(1)
Anonymous,
March 3, 2014 2:21 PM

Not so fast

Sean Penn also came to Venezuela and publically appeared with Hugo Chavez. He came SPECIFICALLY to praise this fascist leader who has caused so much destruction throughout Latin America. While he may have several positive qualities, it is VERY clear Sean Penn does not adequately investigate the causes he supports, or else he got paid a lot of money to endorse a repressive regime.

I'm told that it's a mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim. This puzzles me, because to my understanding, it is not considered a good thing to become intoxicated, period.

One of the characteristics of the at-risk youth is their use of drugs, including alcohol. In my experience, getting drunk doesn't reveal secrets. It makes people act stupid and irresponsible, doing things they would never do if they were sober. Also, I know a lot about the horrible health effects of abusing alcohol, because I work at a research center that focuses on addiction and substance abuse.

Also, I am an alcoholic, which means that if I drink, very bad things happen. I have not had a drink in 22 years, and I have no intention of starting now. Surely there must be instances where a person is excused from the obligation to drink. I don't see how Judaism could ever promote the idea of getting drunk. It just doesn't seem right.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Putting aside for a moment all the spiritual and philosophical reasons for getting drunk on Purim, this remains an issue of common sense. Of course, teenagers should be warned of the dangers of acute alcohol ingestion. Of course, nobody should drink and drive. Of course, nobody should become so drunk to the point of negligence in performing mitzvot. And of course, a recovering alcoholic should not partake of alcohol on Purim.

Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, then he should NOT drink.

Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvot to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results - e.g. under the loosening affect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for God and Torah found deep in the heart. (Perhaps if we were on a higher spiritual level, we wouldn't need to get drunk!)

Yet the Talmud still speaks of an obligation on Purim of "not knowing the difference between Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman." How then should a person who doesn't drink get the point of “not knowing”? Simple - just go to sleep! (Rama - OC 695:2)

All this applies to individuals. But the question remains - does drinking on Purim adversely affect the collective social health of the Jewish community?

The aversion to alcoholism is engrained into Jewish consciousness from a number of Biblical and Talmudic sources. There are the rebuking words of prophets - Isaiah 28:1, Hosea 3:1 with Rashi, and Amos 6:6, and the Zohar says that "The wicked stray after wine" (Midrash Ne'alam Parshat Vayera).

It is well known that the rate of alcoholism among Jews has historically been very low. Numerous medical, psychological and sociological studies have confirmed this. The connection between Judaism and sobriety is so evident, that the following conversation is reported by Lawrence Kelemen in "Permission to Receive":

When Dr. Mark Keller, editor of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, commented that "practically all Jews do drink, and yet all the world knows that Jews hardly ever become alcoholics," his colleague, Dr. Howard Haggard, director of Yale's Laboratory of Applied Physiology, jokingly proposed converting alcoholics to the Jewish religion in order to immerse them in a culture with healthy attitudes toward drinking!

Perhaps we could suggest that it is precisely because of the use of alcohol in traditional ceremonies (Kiddush, Bris, Purim, etc.), that Jews experience such low rates of alcoholism. This ceremonial usage may actually act like an inoculation - i.e. injecting a safe amount that keeps the disease away.

Of course, as we said earlier, all this needs to be monitored with good common sense. Yet in my personal experience - having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim - they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, every year the event is, for me, very special.

Adar 12 marks the dedication of Herod's renovations on the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 11 BCE. Herod was king of Judea in the first century BCE who constructed grand projects like the fortresses at Masada and Herodium, the city of Caesarea, and fortifications around the old city of Jerusalem. The most ambitious of Herod's projects was the re-building of the Temple, which was in disrepair after standing over 300 years. Herod's renovations included a huge man-made platform that remains today the largest man-made platform in the world. It took 10,000 men 10 years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount; the Western Wall that we know today is part of that retaining wall. The Temple itself was a phenomenal site, covered in gold and marble. As the Talmud says, "He who has not seen Herod's building, has never in his life seen a truly grand building."

Some people gauge the value of themselves by what they own. But in reality, the entire concept of ownership of possessions is based on an illusion. When you obtain a material object, it does not become part of you. Ownership is merely your right to use specific objects whenever you wish.

How unfortunate is the person who has an ambition to cleave to something impossible to cleave to! Such a person will not obtain what he desires and will experience suffering.

Fortunate is the person whose ambition it is to acquire personal growth that is independent of external factors. Such a person will lead a happy and rewarding life.

With exercising patience you could have saved yourself 400 zuzim (Berachos 20a).

This Talmudic proverb arose from a case where someone was fined 400 zuzim because he acted in undue haste and insulted some one.

I was once pulling into a parking lot. Since I was a bit late for an important appointment, I was terribly annoyed that the lead car in the procession was creeping at a snail's pace. The driver immediately in front of me was showing his impatience by sounding his horn. In my aggravation, I wanted to join him, but I saw no real purpose in adding to the cacophony.

When the lead driver finally pulled into a parking space, I saw a wheelchair symbol on his rear license plate. He was handicapped and was obviously in need of the nearest parking space. I felt bad that I had harbored such hostile feelings about him, but was gratified that I had not sounded my horn, because then I would really have felt guilty for my lack of consideration.

This incident has helped me to delay my reactions to other frustrating situations until I have more time to evaluate all the circumstances. My motives do not stem from lofty principles, but from my desire to avoid having to feel guilt and remorse for having been foolish or inconsiderate.

Today I shall...

try to withhold impulsive reaction, bearing in mind that a hasty act performed without full knowledge of all the circumstances may cause me much distress.

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